Autonomy in critical minerals, an uphill race for the European Union

The Old Continent is trying to reduce its dependence on China for the import of key minerals for the industry. However, their initiatives face a lack of investment, national fragmentation, and difficulty in implementing mining projects within the EU territory.

In 2026, the European Union faces the challenge of overcoming its addiction to imports of strategic minerals. According to EU sources, the high dependence on China, which dominates both the production and refining of many of these elements, implies a vulnerability comparable to that posed by Russian gas in past decades; specifically because of its essential role in the energy transition of the coming decades. In this context, experts warn that the current geopolitical situation demands that the Old Continent shield itself against possible turbulence or unforeseen events, but its strategy does not seem to be meeting the great expectations. China’s implementation of two packages of rare earth export restrictions in April and October 2025 makes the need to diversify suppliers evident. Although Beijing has temporarily suspended these measures, the possible use of this letter as a form of political pressure has put the Twenty-seven on alert. In response, the EU has launched initiatives such as the Critical Matters Act (CRMA) and has established 15 crucial strategic minerals partnerships with countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Argentina, Chile and Canada. “If oil drove the boom of the 20th century, the 21st century is increasingly defined by strategic materials. Metals and minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel and rare earths have gone from being mere technical notes to becoming a priority. They are key elements for the green transition, along with rapid urbanization, accelerating digitalization and growing infrastructure needs. Its relevance is not new; what has changed is the magnitude and the expected demand, which together point to a fundamental structural change,” say the experts at J. Safra Sarasin Sustainable AM.

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